Fluid pump



sept. 23 1924. 1,509,788

A. H. SPROULE ET AL FLUID PUMP Filed March 5. 1923 P. 4 4 e w A. a i. @wi ma 1 y. Q E A@ Hd-. ,.xlrw a Q Patented Sept. 23, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT HOWELL SPRGULE AND KENNETH BODAS DEVAIGNES SHAV, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

FLUID PUMP.

Application filed March 5, 1323.

To all wlw-m it 71mg/ conc-cra:

Be it known that we, ALBERT HOWELL SrRoULn and KENNETH RoDAs DnvAieNns SHAW, subjects of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at, respectively, 16 Robert Mews, Hampstead Road, London, England, and 144 Harley Street, London,

y, England, have invented new and useful Improveniente in Fluid Pumps, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to an improved fluid pump for mining and other purposes,

. and particularly adaptable for use where it is required to raise liquid from a great depth. Y

The object of this invention is to provide a simpliiied construction of. apparatus of the type in which the pump chamber is situated at a considerable distance from the operating gear as for instance at the bottom of a mine pit, whilst the whole of the operating vgear is situated upon the surface where it can be readily attended to and kept `in proper order.

According to the present invention we employ a pump adapted to be operated from a distance by compressed air by means of an air compressor in which air under pressure is conveyed from said compressor to a valve chamber associated with said pump and this `construction is characterized by our invention in that the compressed air which effects the movement of the valve within said valve chamber also acts as a pressure fluid to discharge fluid from a suction chamber in said pump.

The pump chamber is preferably submerged in the fluid to be pumped, and is provided with a foot valve for the admission. of the fluid tothe chamber. The two chambers forming the pump chamber constitute, one a fluid delivery chamber, and the other a fluid suction chamber. The former is provided with an automatic outlet valve and is connected to a delivery pipe through which the fluid may be discharged. The other, or suction chamber is connected by the main air pipe to an air compressor located on the surface, and an automatic inlet valve controls communication between this air pipe andthe fluid suction chamber. A secondary pipe of small bore communicates with the fluid suction chamber and is controlled by a suitable Serial No. 622,962.

valve, and is also connected to the air compressor.

ln applying` the invention for example to a pumping system for raising water from the bottom of a mine pit-,we prefer to employ a multi-stage compressor, such for instance as a single-cylinder double-ended compressor provided with a single reciprocating piston and constructed for Xample in the manner described in our co-pending application No. 574,653 dated July 13th 1922. The opposite ends of the cylinder form the primary and secondaryl compression chambers.V During the movement of the piston in the compressor to the secondary end of the cylinder, the contents of the secondary compression chamber are delivered through an automatic valve into the main air pipe and thence to the pumping chamber, and when the compressed air enters said chamber it operates a valve which opens ports leading to the fluid suction chamber and simultaneously closes a port or ports leading to the air suction chamber. The air passing into the fluid suction chamber drives out the water therein into the water delivery pipe through an automatic valve. Simultaneously a reduction in pressure is produced at the primary end of the com presser until the piston in said compressor reaches or passes its mid-position when an automatic valve operates to admit air under atmospheric pressure into the primary compression chamber. p lhen the compressor piston reaches the end of its stroke towards the secondary end of the compressor cylinder, the mechanical valve connected to the main air pipe is opened and remains open for a sufficient time to allow the air compressed therein to pass into the primary compression chamber 4of the compressor, at the same time the valve in the fluid suction chamber is operated by the head of water in the water delivery pipe or other suitable means and closes the ports leading to the water suction chamber and opens the port leading to the air suction pipe and any air under pressure remaining is discharged to the atmosphere through the air ports with which the air suction pipe communicates. As the piston travels towards the primary end of vthe Vcylinder of the compressor, a reduction in pressure takes place in the secondary compression chamber and also in Cal the air suction pipe thereby causing water to tlow through the toot valve at the bottom of the fluid suction chamber. On reaching the mid-stroke position, the secondary compression chamber is opened to the atmosphere to admit air under atmospheric pressure. Simultaneously the charge in the primary compression chamber is compressed and is delivered through an automatic valve to a', receiver, and at the end of the stroke of :the piston, the compressed air in the receiver isv delivered to the secondary compression chamber through a mechanically operated valve which is maintained open long enough for the compressed charge inthe receiver to discharge into the air at atmospheric pressure already in the secondary compression chamber, and so the operation continues.

In order that the invention may be readily understood reterence will now be made to the accompanying drawings which show diagrammatically and in section a pumping system constructed for pumping water from mine shafts by way of example, from the description of which, the application of the invention to other purposes will be readily understood.

Figure 1 is a section through the compressor and the pump chamber, and

Figure 2 is a cross section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

In the drawings 1() indicates the pump chamber and 11 is the compressor. The pump chamber may be situated at the bottom of the mine so that it is partially below the level of the water therein, the water level being indicated in the drawing at 12.

The pump chamber is divided into two compartments or chambers by a division wall 13 which extends downwardly to within a short distance of the bottom of the outer chamber or casing` as shown in Fig. 1. The chamber 14 constitutes the water suction chamber and is provided with an automatic valve 15 at the bottom through which water passes atappropriate times. The chamber 16 constitutes the water delivery chamber and is connected by .an automatically operating non-re-turn valve 17 to the water delivery pipe 18 leading upwardly to the top of the mine shaft or to any other point at which the water isvto be delivered.

The water suction chamber 111 communicates through ports 19, 19 with a pressure chamber 20 within which is mounted a piston valve 21 or the like. The lower end ot the pressure chamber 2O is connected by the passage 22 to the water delivery pipe 18 so that the head ot water tends to urge the piston upwardly to a position to close the ports 19, 19 which are preferably located in diametrically opposite walls of the pressure chamber 20'as shown in Fig. 2. The

wall ot' the pressure chamber 20 is also provided with ports 23 which lead to a chamber 24, and these latter ports are hereinafter referred to as the air suction ports, whilst the ports 19, 19 are referred to as the main air ports. The waist 21l of the piston permits these ports 23 to be placed in communication with each other when the piston valve is raised to close the ports 19. The stop 20 in the base of the pressure chamber 2() limits the downward movement ot the piston 21.

The top of the pressure chamber 20 communicates with a main air pipe whilst the chamber 24 communicates with an air suction pipe 26, the latter pipe being of comparatively small bore with relation to the pipe 24, constituting the main air pipe.

The air suction pipe is provided in the course of its length, and preferallly near its top and closely adjacent the compressor 11 with a non-return automatically operating valve 27 which is normally maintained closed by a spring and opens when the air in said suction pipe 2G and the chamber 24 is under sufiicient pressure as hereinafter described.

The upper end of the main air pipe is forked and one branch thereof indicated at 29 communicates with the secondary end 10b 0f the compressor through a valve 30, whilst the other branch 31 con'mlunicates with the primary end l()a of the con'ipressor and is controlled by a mechanically operated valve The valve S2 is located approximately centrally of the length of the compressor. The air suction pipe 2G comnnlni- Cates through an automatically operated non-return valve with the secondary compression chamber 10) of the compressor.

Within the compressor is a piston 34 operated by a piston rod The walls ot the compressor are provided in the neighbourhood ot each end with a valve associated with a pipe leading to a receiver 36. The valve 37 leading to the secondary con'ipression chamber 10" is a mechanically operated valve, whilst the valve 38 leading to the primary compression chan'iber 10 is an automatic nonreturn valve. The compressor is also provided preferably centrally of its length with a non-return valve 39 which is automatically operated, on a reduction ihn pressure being produced in either the primary compression chamber 10 or 1n the secondary compression chamber 10, to admit air under atmospheric pressure.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows Assuming the piston to be in the position indi 'ated in Figure 1, and to be movingr towards the end of the primary compression chamber 10a. it is to be understood that immediately before this position is reached. air under atn'iospheric pressure has been ad- JnitQd to the chamber 10" through the inlet valve 39 which closes .immediately the piston 34'reaches the outer end o'f the chamber 10a. The charge of air under atmospheric pressure which was previously admitted tothe chamber 10a is at the same time compressed within said chamber by the movement ot the piston 34. During this stroke the air compressed in the primary chamber 10n is forced out through the automatic valve 38 and is delivered to the receiver 36. When the piston reaches the end ofits stroke toward the primary end 10a of the cylinder, the mechanically operated valve 37 will be operated and maintained in the open position for a suHicient period to allow the compressed charge of air in the receiver 36 to pass into the secondary compression chamber 10b, already charged with air at atmospheric pressure through the valve 39. The piston 34 now commences its movement to the left in Figure 1, and the air in the chamber 10b together with the air under pressure admitted from the receiver 36 is compressed and delivered through the valve 30 and branch 29 to the main air pipe and thence to the pressure chamber' 2O above the piston valve 21, and as the air pressure rises the piston valve 21 will be forced down against the action of the head of water in the delivery pipe 18 acting on its lower end, so that the ports 19, 19 will be uncovered and the air ports 23 will be closed. The air under pressure is thus admitted to the water suction chamber 14 and drives out the water therein into the chamber 1G and through the automatic valve 17 into the water delivery pipe 18.

In the meantime a reduction in pressure is produced in the primary compression chamber 10a of the compressor, and as soon as the piston 34 passes the valve 39, the latter opens and allows air under atmospheric pressure to enter and till the chamber 10a. When the piston reaches the end of its stroke (to the left of Figure 1), the mechanically operated valve 32 in the branch 31 of the main air pipe is opened and is maintained open long enough to allow the air under compression in the main air pipe 25, branch 31 and the suction chamber 14 to release its pressure into the primary compression chamber 10, so that a fall in pressure is produced in the main air pipe 25 which allows the piston valve 21 to rise under the action ot t-he head of water in the pipe 18 acting through the passage 22, thereby closing the air ports 19, 19, and simultaneously uncovering the air suction ports 23. The opening oi the ports 23 allows any air within the suction chamber 14 to be discharged into the air suction pipe 26 and thence through the valve 27 to the atmosphere. The piston now commences to move from left to right in Figure 1, and in doing so a partial vacuum is produced in the chamber 10b which opens the valve 33 at the top of the air suction pipe 26 and produces a reduction in pressure in the chamber 14 through the open ports 23, thereby causing the water to enter through the valveV 15 and rise in the chamber 14. 0n the piston 34 passing the valve 39, air under atmospheric pressure is admitted to the chamber 10h, the valve 33 remaining open until the pressure in the chamber 10b and the air suction pipe 26 is equalized. On the piston moving to the right the charge of air admitted to the chamber 10"L through the valve 39 under atmospheric pressure, and the additional charge of compressed air delivered to said chamber through the port 32 are compressed, and the compressed charge is subsequently transferred to the receiver 36, and so on as previously described.

It is to be understood, that where we have described the valves as being automatically operating non-return valves, mechanically operated valves may be substituted it so desired.

The arrangement described enables the pump'and operating gear to be situated at great distances apart, and allows water or other liquids to be raised from great depths through the medium of compressed air op erated by a simple orm of compressor, which will enable a high degree of eiiciency to be obtained. The pump chamber which .is situated in the workings of the mine or other position is of an exceedingly simple construction so that it will require practically no attention, and will. operate -tor exceedingly long periods without overhauling or adjustment. Should any repair of this part of the apparatus be necessary it can easily be hauled up to the surface for attention.

llVe are aware that heretofore it has been proposed to provide Huid pressure appa ratus comprising a pump adapted to be operated from a distance by means of an air compressor, in which the compressed air serves to move a valve and as a fluid pressure means to discharge water from a suction chamber, but in this known apparatus the compressed airwhich serves to move the valve does not serve to displace the water in the suction chamber, it only serves to move the valve so that air coming through another inlet in the valve chamber can pass through toa suction chamber, and further in this known apparatus it is essential to apply air pressure at opposite ends oit the'valve to obtain the requisite reciprocation, and also a pair of suction chambers are required to obtain continuous working.

1. In a fluid pump for mining or other purposes, a pumping chamber located near to the fiuid to be pumped having suction and delivery chambers and. valves-'to control the inlet and delivery of the fluid, an air compressor located at a distance, compressed air and suction pipes leading from the compressor to the pump chamber, a valve located in a compartment in the pump chamber and operated automatically by the variation of pressure, means to permit the return of the residual compressed air in the air pipe to the compressor so as to supercharge the same, and a valve controlled outlet on the suction pipe to permit pressure air in the suction chamber to be discharged when they are placed in communication by the automatic valve in the pump chamber.'

2. In a Huid pump for mining or other purposes, ya pumping chamber located near to the fluid to be pumped having suction and delivery chambers and valves to control the inlet and delivery of the fluid, an air compressor located at a distance, compressed air and suction pipes leading from the compressor to the pump chamber, a valve located in a compartment in the pump chamber and operated automatically by the variation of pressure, a. branch pipe leading from the compressed air pipe to the compressor, and a mechanically operated valve to permit the return of the residual compressed air in the air pipeV to the compressor so as to supercharoe the same.

3. In a fluid pum-p for miningor other purposes, a pumping chamber located near to the iiuid to be pumped having suction Y and delivery chambers and valves to con- Y trol the inlet and delivery of the fluid, an

air compressor located at a distance, compressed lair and suc-tion pipes leading from the compressor to the pump chamber, a valve located in a compartment in the pump chamber and operated automatically by the variation of pressure, a branch pipe leading;` from the compressed air pipe to the com! pressor, a mechanically operated valve to permit the return of the residual compressed air in the air pipe to the compressor so as to supercharge the same, and a valve controlled outlet on the suction pipe to permit pressure air in the suction chamber to be discharged when they are placed in communication by the automatic valve in the pump chamber.

4. In a fluid pump for mining or other purposes, a pumping chamber located near to the. fluid to be pumped having suction and delivery chambers and valves to con- Vtrol the inlet and delivery `of the fluid, an

air compressor located at a distance, compressed .air and suction pipes leading from the compressor to the pump chamber, a valve compartment in the pump chamber, a piston valve in the said compartment, a connection from the air pipe to the pressure chamber, a port from the pressure chamber leading to the suction chamber of the pump, ports by which the sucl ion cli-.imber may be placed in connection with the suction pipe when the first port is closed, the valve being operated automatically by the variation ofpressure, means to permit the return ol. the residual compressed air in the air pipe to the compressor so as to supercharge the same, and a valve controlled outlet on the suction pipe to permit pressure air in the suction chamber to be discharged when they are placed in communication by the automatic valve in the pump chamber.

In a fluid pump for mining or other purposes, a pumping chamber located near to the fluid to be pumped having,r suction and delivery chambers and valves to control the inlet and delivery ot the l'luid, an air compressor located at a distance, conn pressed air and suction pipes leading l'rom the compressor to the pump chamber, :i valve compartment in the pump chamber, a piston valve in the said compartment, a connection lrom the air pipe to the pressure chamber, a port Afrom the pressure chamber leading` to the suction chamber ol' the pump, ports by which the suction chamber may be placed in connection with the suction pipe when the lirst port is closed, the valve being operated automatically by the variation ot pressure, a branch pipe leading from the compressed air pipe to the compressor, a mechanically operated valve to permit the return oi the residual. compressed air in the air pipe to the compressor so as to supercharge the same, and a valve controlled outlet on the suction pipe to permit pressure air in the suction chamber to be discharged when they are placed in communication by the automatic valve in the pump chamber.

(i. In al fluid pump for miningr or other purposes, a pumping chamber located near to the (iuid to be pumped having suction and delivery chambers and valves to control the inlet and delivery oi the fluid, a tivo stage air compressor havinga receiver between the tivo stages located at a distance, compressed air and suction pipes leadingr from the compressor to the pump clianiber, ava-lve located in a compartment in the pump chamber and operated automatically by the variation of pressure, means to permit the return of the residual compressed air in the air pipe to the compressor so as to supercharge the same, and a valve controlled outleton the suction pipe to permit pressure air in the suction chamberto be discharged when they are placed in communication, by the automat-ic valve in the pump chamber.

7. ln a fluid pump for mining or other purposes, a pumping chaml'icr located near to the fluid to be pumped havin;r suction and delivery chambers and valves to control the inlet and delivery of the fluid, a two stage air compressor having a receiver between the two stages located at a distance, compressed air and suction pipes leading from the compressor to the pump chamber, a valve located in a compartment in the pump chamber and operated automatically by the variation of pressure., a branch pipe leading from the compressed air pipe to the compressor, and a mechanically operated valve to permit the return of the residual compressed air in the air pipe to the compressor so as to supercharge the same.

8. In a fluid pump for mining or other purposes, a pumping chamber located near to the fluid to be pumped having suction and delivery chambers and valves to control the inlet and delivery of the fluid, a Vtwo stage air compressor having a receiver between the two stages located at a distance, compressed air and suction pipes leading from the compressor to the pump chamber, a valve located in a compartment in thepump chamber and operated automatically by the variation of pressure, a branch pipe leading from the compressed air pipe to the compressor, a mechanically operated valve to permit the return of the residual com pressed air in the air pipe to the compressor so as to supercharige the same, and a valve controlled outlet on the suction pipe to permit pressure air in the suction chamber to be discharged when they are placed in communication by the automatic valve in the pump chamber.

9. In a fluid pump for mining or other purposes, a pumping chamber located near to the fluid to be pumped having suction and delivery chambers and valves to control the inlet and delivery of the fluid, a two stage air compressor having a receiver between the two stages located at a distance, compressed air and suction pipes leading from the compressor to the pump chamber, a valve compartment in the pump chamber, a piston valve in the said compartment, a connection from the air pipe to the cha-m ber, a port from they chamber leading to the suction chamber of the pump, ports by which the suction chamberl may be placed in connection with the suction pipe when the first port is closed, the valve being operated automatically by the variation of pressure, means to permit the return of the residual compressed air in the air pipe to the compressor so as to supercharge the same, and a. valve controlled outlet on the suction pipe to permit pressure air in the suction chamber to be discharged when they are placed in communication by the automatic valve in the pump chamber.

10. In a fluid pump for mining or other purposes, a pun'iping chamber located near to the fluid to be pumped having suction and delivery chambers and valves to control the inlet and delivery of the fluid, a two stage air compressor having a receiver between the two stages located ata distance, compressed air and suction pipes leading from the compressor to the pump chamber, a valve compartment in the pump chamber, a piston valve in the said compartment, a connection from the air pipe to the chamber, a port from the chamber leading to the suction chamber of the pump, ports by which the suction chamber may be placed in connection with the suction pipe when the first port is closed, the valve being op erated automatically by the variation of pressure, a branch pipe leading from the compressed air pipe to the compressor, a mechanically operated valve to permit the return of the residual compressed air in the air pipe to the compressor so as to supercharge the same, and a valve controlled outlet on the suction pipe to permit pressure air in the suction chamber to be discharged when they are placed in communication by the automatic valve in the pump chamber. i

ll. In a fluid pump for mining or other purposes, a pump chamber located near to the fluid to be pumped, suction and delivery chambers therein, a valve compartment, a piston valve in this compartment, an air delivery pipe connected to one end of this compartment, a port therein adapted to be uncovered when the valve is moved by the compressed air t0 permit it to pass into the suction chamber and drive out the water through the delivery chamber through a non-return valve to the delivery pipe, ports in the valve compartment leading to a chamber to which the suction pipe is connected and to the suction chamber, a waist to the piston valve to connect these ports when the air port is closed, a stop to limit the movement of the piston and an air compressor to create an alternate compression and suction in the air and suction pipes respectively.

12. In a fluid pump for mining or other purposes, a pump chamber located near to the fluid to be pumped, suction and delivery chambers therein, a valve compartment, a piston valve in this compartment, an air delivery pipe connected to one end of this compartment, a port therein adapted to be be uncovered when the valve is moved by the compressed air to permit it to pass into the suction chamber and drive out the water through the delivery chamber through a non-return valve to the delivery pipe, ports in the valve compartment leading to a chamber to which the 4suction pipe is connected and to the suction chamber, a waist to the piston valve to connect these ports when the air port is closed, a stop to limit the movement of the piston, a two stage compressor having a receiver between the two stages, an airpipe leading from the suction pipe 110 permit the escape of :my 1'el0 siduel pressure air from the pump chamber after the delivery of fluid therefrom nml valves to control the infiow and delivery 0l fluid to and from the suction :md delivery chambers respectively.

ALBERT HOWELL SPROULE. KENNETH RODAS DEVAIGNES SHAW. 

